Teaching Children Gratitude

Last night, I planned a little activity with my family centered around gratitude. I’ve always known November as gratitude month (and birthday month, yay!). As a teenager, I kept a gratitude journal and would write in it almost every day throughout November. I’ve been thinking lately about things I’m grateful for since it’s hard to find the time to write these days, although I want to be better at keeping a written journal. Writing down your blessings really makes you appreciate all that you have.

In this season of Thanksgiving, I want to teach my children the importance of being thankful. In this activity last night, each of us grabbed our colored pencils and crayons to draw the things we are thankful for. I was pleasantly surprised to see how thoughtful my kids were, at only 4 and 2 years old. Once given the opportunity to think of things they were grateful for, it became easy to list off lots of blessings! They are thankful for their family, warm beds, parades, circles, princesses, hearts, etc. I loved how their faces lit up thinking of these things and sketching them on their simple papers. We enjoyed each other’s company while creating art and eating pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

Next month is Christmas, where we suddenly forget all the things we have and focus on all the things we want. My goal this Christmas season (since my kids have so many toys and really don’t need many more) is to keep it simple yet still magical. There really is truth in the saying, “Less is More.” I’ve been striving to live a more minimalist lifestyle and it is very freeing. Organizing and ridding of things I don’t need anymore is a wonderful feeling (moving from one home to another is the perfect time to do this!). While shopping, instead of splurging on all the things I want in that moment, I try to take the time to ponder if I really need more stuff. Usually I don’t! Simplifying life is good for the soul.

So…

How can we teach our kids gratitude? Even at a young age?

I came up with a list of simple ways to teach our children gratitude with our words as well as by example. My hope is to incorporate these ideas during the Christmas season. It is the perfect time of year to practice what you preach!

• Encourage the words “Please” and “Thank You”.
• Tell your children “Thank You” even for the most simple tasks.
• Help your children write “Thank You” cards. If they can’t write, have them draw a picture.
• Take your children shopping to pick out gifts for their parents, grandparents and siblings. Teach by experience that giving is more fun than receiving!
• Go through old (but in good condition) toys that may not get played with and give to local shelters, goodwill, and/or other children in need. **We plan to do this before Santa comes!
• Help provide a Thanksgiving meal or Christmas toys to a family in need.
• During dinner, go around the table and have each person say something they are thankful for or a happy moment from their day.
• Say prayers. Always start by thanking God for our many blessings.
• When old enough, encourage your children to write in a journal. Beneficial in the moment for experiencing gratitude but also so much fun to read in the future.

I found some great books to sit down and read with your kids that teach gratitude. Also the cutest idea of keeping a “Gratitude Jar”. You can easily make one to have in your home and put pieces of paper with written words of what you’re thankful for or even objects that represent blessings. I’ve linked some jars that you can purchase or look at to get ideas! I love the “I Am Grateful” journal linked below, too. Adorable!